​For me, creating art is a practice of self-love. It's intentionally choosing to slow down. Lighting a fire in my studio. Saying no more to the fast-paced life I gave up when I said goodbye to my corporate career. Saying yes to the things that nourish me and make me feel alive.

 

Growing up, I was always artsy. So much so, I studied art at the University of Iowa and had dreams of becoming an art teacher. Then somehow I wound up in an office and high heels managing high rise office buildings. For 15 years I barely touched a paintbrush. 

 

In 2019 the cosmos had big plans for me.  I left my job, my marriage, and most of my belongings and took what was supposed to be a one year sabbatical to travel solo. Less than 3 months in, I met a Dutch guy in Vietnam and within a few months I moved to a seaside village in the Netherlands with just a few bags and my cat.

 

2019 was also the year that I began a journey of self love. The year I began to question societal norms and started defining for myself my values and beliefs. It was the year I began to show up more vulnerable than ever, opening up about having bipolar depression which I had shamefully hid for over 10 years.  It was in this process of peeling back layers that no longer served me and showing up authentically that my creativity came flooding back.

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These days, my time is spent loving on my one year old daughter Essie, cold swimming with a community of beautiful, warmed hearted women in the North Sea every Sunday, and sneaking into my art studio in the garden (that my partner and I built together - what a dream!) whenever I can find the time.  ​

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please e-mail me at Cathy_denise@outlook.com for any inquiries or connect with me on Instagram to be part of my little online community.